Whole Foods Market’s 46-Year-Old CEO Works Out Twice A Day And ‘Fully Uses Up’ His PTO. His Keys To Work-Life Balance

Jason Buechel, 46, took the top job in 2022, just five years after Amazon bought the high-end grocer for over $13.7 billion. 

As chief executive, Buechel works on a tight schedule consisting of frequent business travel and a “minimum of 10 meetings per day”—but that doesn’t stop him from taking care of himself.   

“I highly prioritize PTO,” Buechel tells Fortune in a recent interview. “So I do use all of my allocation each year.”

Whole Foods Market’s team members accrue PTO based on seniority and years spent at the company, but regardless of how many vacation days one has, Buechel emphasizes using all of it to “replenish, relax, and unwind.” 

“It’s one of the things we’ve changed within Whole Foods Market,” Buechel says, referring to the company’s previous PTO policy, which allowed employees to cash out their unused vacation hours. 

But the scheme often ended with employees opting out of their hard-earned time off, which Buechel believes can be detrimental to one’s mental health. Under a Whole Foods Reddit thread, an employee calculated that one team member was bound to earn up to $26,000 because of 2,000 unused PTO hours.

To ensure staff are taking vacations away from work, Whole Foods Market’s new policy places a cap on how many hours can be banked, which Buechel argues “really forces people to make sure they are taking PTO…and ultimately having a great work-life balance.” 

Skimping on taking PTO is a trend seen across corporate America. A 2023 survey by CalendarLabs found that 80% of employees felt guilty about taking PTO, and 38% of U.S. workers did not use all their time off.

Buechel is bucking the trend and makes a point to “always ask” his team members about what they’ve planned for their next vacation.  

“I think it’s important for me to help set that example,” he says. This principle helps Buechel lead a balanced life, and he gave Fortune an exclusive look into his daily routine and wellness habits. 

Whole Foods Market CEO’s daily routine

6:00 a.m.: After waking up “no later than” 6 a.m., Buechel does what most of us are guilty of.

“First thing I’m typically doing is, I hate to say it, I’m checking my phone,” he tells Fortune.  

After skimming through his email inbox, he ventures out on a morning run that averages around five to six miles. 

The Whole Foods chief, who has also completed six marathons, “loves” finishing his workouts with a smoothie breakfast consisting of mushroom, vegan, and vanilla protein powder, plus oatmeal, bananas, peanut butter, and chia seeds.

8:00 a.m.: Work begins with attending to more emails, catching up on news, or listening to a podcast while he gets ready to commute to Whole Foods Market’s headquarters in Austin.

A lunch of “whole foods”

Being the CEO of one of the biggest grocery stores in the country comes with its perks.

“I happen to work above one of the best places to eat in Austin, which is our flagship store,” says Buechel, which makes it easy for him to walk down and pick his own lunch from the grocer’s lavish salad bar. 

“I really care about what I’m putting in my body,” he tells Fortune, noting that he typically eats a vegan diet for breakfast and lunch. “I ultimately see how it impacts my performance, my happiness, my well-being, and even my sleep.” 

6:00 p.m.: Buechel wraps up work by 6 p.m., unwinding with a second workout session at the gym or a simple walk to “stay active,” followed by a second round of grocery shopping at Whole Foods to prep for a dinner consisting of animal proteins. 

12:00 a.m.: To ensure “a solid six hours” of sleep, Buechel hits the hay no later than midnight, just after reading a book in bed.

Saunas and plunges

Like many CEOs who swear by the benefits of cold plunges, Buechel also touts a “great protocol hack” he started doing several years ago: 30 minutes of infrared sauna followed by two to three rounds of alternating three-minute cold and hot plunges, ending with a cold plunge.

“While the cold is definitely painful while you’re doing it,” says Buechel, “your body feels amazing afterward.”

An “enriched life”

When Buechel is not working, he’s traveling, hiking, doing outdoor challenges with friends, watching sports, or enjoying Austin’s live music scene. “I look at it as having an enriched life,” he tells Fortune. 

“For me, it’s making sure I always have time to unplug and that I’m taking care of myself.”